A/HRC/27/66
substantially reduced if people are well informed and motivated towards a culture of
disaster prevention and resilience.”38 In the case of indigenous peoples, education on
disaster risk reduction, in addition to being included in school curricula, could be addressed
through their own educational systems and institutions, in accordance with article 14 of the
Declaration.
2.
Strengthening the participation of indigenous peoples in the development of plans for
disaster risk reduction
68.
The importance of strengthening the participation of indigenous peoples was
highlighted at the conclusion of the 130th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,39
which urged its 164 member parliaments “to take immediate action to review existing
legislation related to disaster risk reduction.” The assembly further adopted a resolution
stressing that “reducing disaster risk and protecting people’s lives are the legal
responsibility of all public representatives.” At an earlier Inter-Parliamentary Union event
focusing on parliaments, minorities, and indigenous peoples’ effective participation in
politics, the assembly stated: “We cannot accept that minorities and indigenous peoples are
the most vulnerable members of our societies and that they remain excluded from
decision-making that affects their lives and the future of our countries.”40 These two
resolutions, stating that national government leaders are responsible for reducing risk and
that they cannot exclude indigenous peoples from decision-making, are strong statements
and should be a call to action. It is through these kinds of deliberations, which influence
national laws and policies, that lasting, sustainable risk reduction will be achieved. At the
national level, Guatemala reported on the development of risk and vulnerability maps with
the participation of indigenous peoples.41
69.
Indigenous peoples need to be involved in strengthening national risk reduction at
all levels. Examples of this involvement include the following:
(a)
Supporting legal recognition of indigenous peoples’ collective and
intergenerational rights to their lands, territories and natural resources, as the basis for
livelihood security, cultural identity and political leverage.
(b)
Promoting access to financial resources for the development of basic services
in indigenous territories.
(c)
Developing educational and informative materials in appropriate media on
the causes of disaster and climate change risk, and on measures to reduce it.
(d)
Encouraging the holding of forums within and between indigenous
communities to identify and share traditional mechanisms for coping with climate
variability and natural hazards, and to analyse their potential effectiveness in future climate
change scenarios.
(e)
Promoting access to technology and scientific knowledge generated by nonindigenous peoples.
38
39
40
41
18
Hyogo Framework for Action, para. 18.
Inter-Parliamentary Union. Towards risk-resilient development: taking into consideration
demographic trends and natural constraints (2014). Available from www.ipu.org/conf-e/130/Res2.htm (accessed 4 August 2014).
Inter-Parliamentary Union. Parliaments, minorities and indigenous peoples: effective participation in
politics (2010). Available from www.ipu.org/splz-e/chiapas10.htm (accessed 4 August 2014).
Submission: Guatemala.